Sports Ministry suspends Table Tennis Federation of India over governance and selection concerns
The Sports Ministry in Mumbai on Wednesday (August 12, 2026) suspended the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) as the National Sports Federation for the sport with immediate effect, citing repeated non-compliance with government directions, governance deficiencies and concerns over athlete welfare and selection procedures.
The decision was issued in a five-page order after the ministry served a show-cause notice to TTFI on June 30 and found the federation’s response of July 7 inadequate. The order said continuing differences between TTFI president Meghna Ahlawat and secretary general Kamlesh Mehta had adversely affected institutional decision-making and undermined confidence in the federation’s governance. The ministry also referenced the Delhi High Court’s observation about factions within TTFI when assessing the impact of those differences.
During the suspension, TTFI will not be entitled to government financial assistance, official patronage or other benefits attached to NSF recognition. The ministry said it sought to insulate athletes from the administrative turmoil and stressed the need to maintain continuity and uninterrupted participation for Indian paddlers. The suspension remains in place until a compliant governance structure is restored.
Financial transparency was singled out as a major concern in the order, which questioned delays in adopting and uploading audited financial statements for 2023-24 and 2024-25. The ministry noted that the 2023-24 accounts, although audited in September 2024, were placed before the General Body only in January 2026. It added that the 2024-25 accounts were not placed before the same AGM.
Selection procedures were described as inconsistent with the ministry’s March 2025 policy and deficient in addressing criteria for major events such as the Olympics and Asian Games. The order said TTFI’s selection policies did not adequately set out criteria for those events and highlighted the absence of an effective mechanism for athletes to raise selection-related grievances. Those shortcomings were cited among the reasons affecting athlete welfare.
The ministry also flagged specific governance actions it found contrary to directives, including TTFI’s appointment of Mahinder Pal Singh as CEO in July 2024. It questioned the federation’s failure to fill the treasurer’s vacancy through the prescribed electoral process and criticised the nomination of Executive Committee members instead of electing them. These procedural issues formed part of the ministry’s broader finding of governance deficiencies.
The ministry has instructed the Indian Olympic Association to consult the International Table Tennis Federation and constitute an interim mechanism, including an Ad Hoc Committee, to ensure continuity and uninterrupted participation of Indian paddlers until a compliant governance structure is restored. During that period the federation will remain ineligible for government benefits linked to NSF recognition.
